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A Trip to the Farne Islands

Off the coast of northeast England lies an archipelago of 16-28 islands (depending on the tide). Owned and protected by the British National Trust, the Farne Islands host 100,000 pairs of breeding seabirds, including more than 23 species. It is also home to one of Europe's largest grey seal colonies: About 4,000 adults give birth to 1,500 pups every autumn. Every five years, the National Trust carries out a census of the islands' population of puffins, and last year's survey showed there were almost 40,000 nesting pairs on the islands--an 8 percent rise from 2008.

Members of the public take pictures as they visit the Farne Islands where Puffins are returning to their summer breeding grounds, on May 16, 2013 in the Farne Islands, England. A census is carried out every five years with the last one in 2008 recording 36,500 pairs of puffins. The Farne Islands, offer good protection for the birds to nest, providing excellent sources of food, and few ground predators, despite this rangers fear that the extreme winter could impact on breeding numbers.
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National Trust rangers Will Scott, David Kinchin Smith, Samantha Morgan and Laura Shearer put their hands into Puffin nests during a census on the Farne Islands, on May 16, 2013. Every five years the National Trust carries out a census of the islands' population of puffins, and this year's survey showed there were almost 40,000 nesting pairs on the islands - an 8 percent rise from 2008.
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A warden walks through a breeding colony of Arctic Terns on June 24, 2011 on Inner Farne, England. Visitors to the Farne Islands are pre-warned and advised to wear hats to protect themselves from the Terns who will dive down and attack anyone they perceive as a threat to their nest.
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